Weed Seed Destruction

ABSTRACT

Weed seeds are destroyed in the chaff from a combine harvester by repeated high speed impacts caused by a rotor mounted in one of a pair of side by side housings which accelerate the discarded seeds in a direction centrifugally away from the rotor onto a stator including angularly adjustable stator surfaces around the axis. Thus the discarded seeds rebound back and forth between the rotor and the stator to provide a plurality of impacts. The seeds are carried axially of the rotor by a controlled airstream so that they move to an axial discharge location where a discharge fan is mounted. The angle of the discharge around the rotor axis can be changed to direct the seeds to the side of the combine away from a straw chopper, towards the guide fins of the tailboard of the chopper, or into the housing of the straw chopper.

This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No.15/701,096 filed Sep. 11^(th) 2017 which is a continuation in part ofapplication Ser. No. 15/209,151 filed Jul. 13^(th) 2016 which issued asU.S. Pat. No. 10,004,176 on Jun. 25, 2018. This application claims thebenefit under 35 USC 119 (e) of Provisional application 62/192111 filedJul. 14^(th) 2015. This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of Provisional application 62/763112 filed Feb. 1^(st) 2018.

This invention relates to a weed seed destructor which can be attachedto a combine harvester so that weed seeds in the discharged chaff can bedevitalized before being spread onto the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Combine harvesters harvest cereal grain crops, such as wheat, oats, rye,barley, corn, soybeans and flax. Grain and straw are separated in acombine harvester. Following the separation process, waste straw andchaff is supplied to a chopper for shredding and distributing back overthe field in an even spread pattern.

During the harvesting process weed seeds and grain seed are dischargedwith the residue into the chopper and spread back onto the field. Thecombine is then effectively acting as a seeder to evenly spread the seedback onto the field. In a number of areas of the world herbicides areused heavily to control the weed seeds however this has led to weed seedthat has become resistant to the herbicide. Grain seed has beendeveloped to be resistant to specific herbicides, which depending oncrop rotations can be a problem for subsequent crop.

It is known that if the seed can be removed or destroyed before thecombine spreads it back onto the field the cycle can be stopped.Research has shown that, with three consecutive cycles of weed and grainremoval, significant reductions in herbicide can be obtained providinghuge saving for farmers.

One recent approach is shown in WO 2014/127408 published Aug. 28^(th)2014 and assigned to Grains Research Development Corporation Australiawhich shows that a plurality of impacts at relatively high speed of theseeds with a stationary object causes breakdown of the seed sufficientto prevent germination. Thus they have developed a cage mill which isintegrally mounted inside the combine harvester so as to receive wastematerial (discarded seeds and chaff) from the sieve. The cage millassembly includes at least one rotating ring carrying a plurality ofblades and a series of outer stationary rings or fixed blades. Thus theseeds are accelerated outwardly by escaping centrifugally from therotating blades into the surrounding stationary blades of the outerrings where a series of impacts occur as the seeds move outwardly intoand through the fixed blades. The seeds are released outwardly under thecentrifugal force from the stationary blades and escape outwardly into aperipheral channel for discharge.

The document shows evidence that four impacts at relatively high speedare sufficient to cause the required breakdown of the seeds, for exampleto obtain a 95% kill rate.

However the cage mill shown is large and complex with numerous ringsrunning in opposite directions. Should a rock, or other hard materialenter the mill, the entire cage mill would need to be replaced. Thus thesystem may function to destroy the seeds but has practical difficultiesas it is without consideration of other obstacles passing through theassembly. The assembly runs at a very high rotational speed, so theprecision in manufacturing is critical. Although this is believed thatthis arrangement is closer to commercialization a number of problemsremain with the design.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,448,933 (Roy) issued Jun. 10 1969 describes a cone stylegrinding shear mill used to process weed seed. All excess chaff and weedseed is processed by the unit. However it is a permanently fixed grinderwithout a means to bypass material other than residue. It would alsoallow passage of small fine seeds as it would need to be set to theaverage seed size to allow adequate throughput.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,154 (Reyenga) issued Oct. 22 1991 discloses a pairof rollers to mill seeds smaller than grain that are in the clean grainauger. This does not address seeds thrown over the back of the sieve andwould not work if placed behind the sieve as today's combines the chaffstream is often 6 inches thick which would cushion the seeds and allowthe spread of live seed back onto the field.

In AU Published Application 2001/038781 an additional sieve is added toremove more of the chaff before milling, and separate the weed seed fromthe grain. However this is not practical with today's combines. Allcombines throw out some grain and farmers want the herbicide tolerantgrain removed as well.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,152,610 (Harrington) issued Apr. 10 2012 discloses anarrangement which processes all the chaff coming off of the sieves andblows it to a trailing cart to pulverize all of the residue. The cartrequires a second engine running in the dust of the combine and the millrequires a significant amount of power to pulverize and discharge theresidue back onto the field. The cage mill disclosed is large andcomplex with numerous rings running in opposite directions. Again, therings have not removable parts so should a rock, or other hard materialenter it the entire cage mill would need to be replaced. The cost ofthis system will limit its commercial viability.

The term weed seed destruction used herein is used somewhat colloquiallyin that the seeds are not annihilated but are devitalized or rendered sothat they cannot germinate. It will of course also be appreciated thatnot necessarily each and every seed is destroyed but that the intentionis that a significant number will be incapable of germination so as toreduce the number of emerging seeds in the growing season.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provide an apparatusfor destroying weed seeds comprising:

a housing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine harvesterfor receiving a feed material containing separated chaff and weed seedsseparated by the combine harvester from harvested crop;

a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and includingrotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and foraccelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis ofthe rotor;

at least one stator arranged at a location along the direction andcomprising a stator support member and a plurality of stator portionsmounted on the support member for engaging the weed seeds in theaccelerated feed material;

wherein there is provided a generally horizontal shaft mounted on thehousing and including a gear box for driving a generally upstandingdrive shaft and wherein the rotor is mounted on the drive shaft on topof the horizontal shaft.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided anapparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising:

a housing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine harvesterfor receiving a feed material containing separated chaff and weed seedsseparated by the combine harvester from harvested crop;

a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and includingrotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and foraccelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis ofthe rotor;

at least one stator arranged at a location along the direction andcomprising a stator support member and a plurality of stator portionsmounted on the support member for engaging the weed seeds in theaccelerated feed material;

wherein there is provided an inner stator and an outer stator coaxialtherewith and at least one of inner and outer stators is adjustable tochange the angular relationship therebetween;

and wherein the angular position of at least one of the stators isadjustable by a control linkage from a cab of the combine harvester.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provide anapparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising:

a housing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine harvesterfor receiving a feed material containing separated chaff and weed seedsseparated by the combine harvester from harvested crop;

a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and includingrotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and foraccelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis ofthe rotor;

at least one stator arranged at a location along the direction andcomprising a stator support member and a plurality of stator portionsmounted on the support member for engaging the weed seeds in theaccelerated feed material;

wherein each of the rotor blades includes a sharpened cutting edgeradial to the axis.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provide anapparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising:

a housing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine harvesterfor receiving a feed material containing separated chaff and weed seedsseparated by the combine harvester from harvested crop;

a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and includingrotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and foraccelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis ofthe rotor;

at least one stator arranged at a location along the direction andcomprising a stator support member and a plurality of stator portionsmounted on the support member for engaging the weed seeds in theaccelerated feed material;

wherein the rotor also includes an additional blade element outside ofthe outer stator element.

Preferably in any of the above aspects the stator support member iscylindrical so as to surround the axis of the rotor and the statorportions are part cylindrical with each of the plurality of statorportions extending around a part only of the periphery of the supportmember.

Preferably in any of the above aspects there is provided a dischargeopening between each stator portion and the next.

Preferably in any of the above aspects there are provided inner andouter coaxial cylindrical stators.

Preferably in any of the above aspects there are provided rotorcomponents between the inner and outer stators.

Preferably in any of the above aspects each stator portion comprises aplurality of upstanding impact posts at spaced positions around theaxis.

Preferably in any of the above aspects there is provided a plurality ofthe stator portions having different characteristics which can beselected for different weed seed sizes.

Preferably in any of the above aspects the stator portions are hardsurface coated as a separate component from the support member.

Preferably in any of the above aspects each of the stator portionscomprises mounting edges at angularly spaced ends of the portion forattachment to a rail of the support member.

Preferably in any of the above aspects the support member comprises atop and bottom ring around the axis of the rotor with a plurality ofrails parallel to the rotor axis.

Preferably in any of the above aspects each of the stator portionscomprises an angularly spaced row of deflector surfaces parallel to therotor axis.

Preferably in any of the above aspects the stator includes a pluralityof discharge openings at angularly spaced positions around the statorwith the support member being angularly adjustable around the rotor axisto move the openings.

Preferably in any of the above aspects there is provided an inner statorand an outer stator coaxial therewith and at least one of inner andouter stators is adjustable to change the angular relationshiptherebetween.

Preferably in any of the above aspects the angular position of at leastone of the stators is adjustable by a control linkage from a cab of thecombine harvester.

Preferably in any of the above aspects the rotor comprises a hubcarrying rotor blades defining said rotor surfaces where the blades arepivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the rotor axis so as to actas blades.

Preferably in any of the above aspects each of the rotor blades includesa sharpened cutting edge radial to the axis and a fan blade portiongenerally axial of the axis.

Preferably in any of the above aspects the rotor also includes anadditional blade element outside of the outer stator element.

Preferably in any of the above aspects each of the additional bladeelements includes a sharpened cutting edge radial to the axis and a fanblade portion generally axial of the axis.

Preferably in any of the above aspects each of the additional bladeelements is located underneath the stator.

Preferably in any of the above aspects there are two rotors each mountedon a respective gear box at spaced positions along the horizontal shaft.

The invention herein can be used with many different types of stator ina multi-stage impact mill including round or flat surfaces and otherobstacles which engage the material as it is carried by the rotor.Examples are shown in the above cited patent documents. In one examplethe stator includes perforated stator plates with an opening betweeneach plate and the next. However the same constructions defined hereincan be used with stator elements where the material passes between oneobstacle or blade and the next in an array around the axis.

Preferably the support member is cylindrical so as to surround the axisof the rotor and the stator surface portions are part cylindrical.

Preferably the stator surface portions have a common axial dimension.

Preferably each of the plurality of stator surface portions extendsaround a part only of the periphery of the support member.

In one example there is provided a discharge opening between each statorsurface portion and the next so that some of the material escapesthrough perforations in the stator surfaces and some escapes through adischarge opening. However many other styles and arrangement of thestator can be used.

Preferably there are provided at least two stators arranged as inner andouter coaxial cylindrical stators but there may be more stators.

Preferably there are provided rotor components between the inner andouter stators to assist in movement of the material between the statorsand to carry the material around the inside surface of the outer statorto process the material.

In one embodiment, each stator surface portion comprises a plate whichis perforated with an array of holes so that the material slides overthe inner surface of the part cylindrical plate to interact with theholes.

Preferably a plurality of the stator surface portions having differentcharacteristics which can be selected for different weed seed sizes.

Preferably the stator surface portions are hard surface coated as aseparate component from the support member. In this arrangement, each ofthe stator surface portions comprises a frame and bars which can behardened as a separate relatively small component using known processes.

For example each of the stator surface portions comprises mounting edgesat angularly spaced ends of the portion for attachment to a rail of thesupport member. That is a simple construction of the stator surfaceportions is a r pair of sheet metal plates curved to provide therequired part cylindrical shape with turned down end portions to act asmounting flanges with bars welded between to provide the impactsurfaces.

Preferably the support member comprises a top and bottom ring around theaxis of the rotor with a plurality of rails parallel to the rotor axisto allow each of the portions to be attached at angular spaced positionsaround the axis.

Preferably there is a seal created between the rotor and at least onestator ring to eliminate a pathway through the mill in which weed seedscan escape without contacting a stator surface

In another embodiment each of the stator surface portions comprises anangularly spaced row of deflector surfaces parallel to the rotor axis.

Preferably there is provided an inner stator and an outer stator coaxialtherewith and at least one of inner and outer stators is adjustable tochange the angular relationship therebetween.

Preferably the angular position of at least one of the stators isadjustable from the cab.

Preferably the rotor comprises a hub carrying rotor blades definingrotor surfaces where the blades are pivotally mounted about an axisparallel to the rotor axis so as to act as blades.

Preferably said stator and said one or more stator surfaces of thestator are arranged such that the weed seeds impact on said one or morestator surfaces and do not pass through the stator along said directionbut instead are rebounded therefrom back toward the rotor and such thatthe weed seeds rebound back and forth between the rotor and the statorto provide a plurality of impacts on the accelerated feed material todestroy at least some of the weed seeds.

Preferably at least one of the rotor surfaces and/or at least one of thestator surfaces is arranged to pivot to a position to increase a spacingbetween the stator and rotor surfaces to allow the passage of foreignobjects between the rotor and stator surfaces.

Preferably the rotational speed of the rotor is adjustable to change thenumber of impacts a seed encounters during its passage.

According to another aspect of the invention as described herein thereis provided an apparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising:

a housing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine harvesterfor receiving from the location a feed material containing separatedchaff and weed seeds separated by the combine harvester from harvestedcrop;

a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and includingrotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and foraccelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis ofthe rotor;

a stator arranged at a location along the direction and including one ormore stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feedmaterial;

wherein the stator surfaces are movable in an adjustment movement so asto change the number of impacts caused to each weed seed.

Preferably the stator surfaces are movable in the adjustment movementabout an axis parallel to the rotor axis.

According to another aspect of the invention as described herein thereis provided an apparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising:

a housing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine harvesterfor receiving from the location a feed material containing separatedchaff and weed seeds separated by the combine harvester from harvestedcrop;

a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and includingrotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and foraccelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis ofthe rotor;

a stator arranged at a location along the direction and including one ormore stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feedmaterial;

wherein the stator surfaces are replaceable.

According to another aspect of the invention as described herein thereis provided an apparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising:

a housing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine harvesterfor receiving from the location a feed material containing separatedchaff and weed seeds separated by the combine harvester from harvestedcrop;

a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and includingrotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and foraccelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis ofthe rotor;

a stator arranged at a location along the direction and including one ormore stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feedmaterial;

said stator and said one or more stator surfaces of the stator beingarranged such that the weed seeds impact on said one or more statorsurfaces;

wherein the rotor comprises a hub carrying rotor blades defining saidrotor surfaces where the blades are pivotally mounted about an axisparallel to the rotor axis so as to act as blades.

According to another aspect of the invention as described herein thereis provided an apparatus for destroying weed seeds for use in a combineharvester where the combine harvester comprises a separation system forseparating from harvested crop at a first discharge location a firstmaterial comprising straw and at a second discharge location a secondmaterial comprising chaff and said weed seeds, the apparatus comprising:

a straw chopper section comprising:

-   -   a chopper housing arranged to receive from the first discharge        location the first material containing straw;    -   a chopper rotor mounted in the chopper housing having a        plurality of chopping blades for chopping the straw for        discharge from the first housing component;    -   and a spreading device for receiving the straw discharged from        the chopper housing and spreading the discharged straw to rear        and sides of the combine harvester;

a weed seed destructor section comprising:

-   -   a destructor housing arranged to receive from the second        discharge location the second material;    -   a rotor arrangement mounted in the destructor housing for        rotation about an axis and including rotor surfaces thereon for        engaging the second material and for accelerating the feed        material in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor;    -   a stator arrangement mounted at a location along the direction        and including a plurality of stator surfaces for engaging the        weed seeds in the accelerated second material to cause a        plurality of impacts with the weed seeds;    -   and at least one a discharge mouth for discharge of the second        material after the plurality of impacts;

said at least one discharge mouth being located so as to direct thesecond material underneath the bottom wall onto the spreading device.

Preferably said rotor arrangement comprises two rotors each having anupstanding axis of rotation with the two rotors arranged side by sideacross the combine harvester and wherein said at least one dischargemouth comprises two discharge mouths at spaced positions across combineharvester and each arranged to direct the second material underneath thechopper housing onto the spreading device.

Preferably the spreading device comprises a tailboard with a pluralityof fins and the discharge mouth is oriented to direct the secondmaterial onto the fins.

Preferably the weed seed destructor section is mounted with an intake infront of the chopper housing and with the rotor and stator underneaththe chopper housing.

According to another aspect of the invention as described herein thereis provided an apparatus for destroying weed seeds for use in a combineharvester where the combine harvester comprises a separation system forseparating from harvested crop at a first discharge location a firstmaterial comprising straw and at a second discharge location a secondmaterial comprising chaff and said weed seeds, the apparatus comprising:

a straw chopper section comprising:

-   -   a chopper housing arranged to receive from the first discharge        location the first material containing straw;    -   a chopper rotor mounted in the chopper housing having a        plurality of chopping blades for chopping the straw for        discharge from the first housing component;    -   and a spreading device for receiving the straw discharged from        the chopper housing and spreading the discharged straw to rear        and sides of the combine harvester;

a weed seed destructor section comprising:

-   -   a destructor housing arranged to receive from the second        discharge location the second material;    -   a rotor arrangement mounted in the destructor housing for        rotation about an axis and including rotor surfaces thereon for        engaging the second material and for accelerating the feed        material in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor;    -   a stator arrangement mounted at a location along the direction        and including a plurality of stator surfaces for engaging the        weed seeds in the accelerated second material to cause a        plurality of impacts with the weed seeds;    -   and at least one a discharge mouth for discharge of the second        material after the plurality of impacts;

and a guide wall component movable between a first position and a secondposition where:

in the first position the chaff and said weed seeds from the seconddischarge location are directed into the weed seed destructor, while thestraw from the first discharge location enters the chopper housing; and

in the second position the chaff and said weed seeds from the seconddischarge location are directed into the chopper housing with the straw.

According to another aspect of the invention as described herein thereis provided an apparatus for destroying weed seeds for use in a combineharvester where the combine harvester comprises a separation system forseparating from harvested crop at a first discharge location a firstmaterial comprising straw and at a second discharge location a secondmaterial comprising chaff and said weed seeds, the apparatus comprising:

a straw chopper section comprising:

-   -   a chopper housing arranged to receive from the first discharge        location the first material containing straw;    -   a chopper rotor mounted in the chopper housing having a        plurality of chopping blades for chopping the straw for        discharge from the first housing component;    -   and a spreading device for receiving the straw discharged from        the chopper housing and spreading the discharged straw to rear        and sides of the combine harvester;

a weed seed destructor section comprising:

-   -   a destructor housing arranged to receive from the second        discharge location the second material;    -   a rotor arrangement mounted in the destructor housing for        rotation about an axis and including rotor surfaces thereon for        engaging the second material and for accelerating the feed        material in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor;    -   a stator arrangement mounted at a location along the direction        and including a plurality of stator surfaces for engaging the        weed seeds in the accelerated second material to cause a        plurality of impacts with the weed seeds;

and a guide wall component movable between a first position and a secondposition where:

in the first position the chaff and said weed seeds from the seconddischarge location are directed into the weed seed destructor, while thestraw enters the spreading device; and

in the second position the chaff and said weed seeds from the seconddischarge location are directed into the straw spreading device.

This arrangement can be used in conjunction with a conventionalarrangement in which the chopper section is mounted internally withinthe combine housing instead of at the rear. Therefore at the rear isprovided a rotary type spreader including typically two horizontal diskssimilar to the conventional chaff spreading system. Thus in thisarrangement the chaff and weed seeds form the weed seed destructionsection are directed by a guide onto the rotary straw spreader systemfor common spreading of all material. Again the combined spreadingaction and the additional air flow can enhance the spreading action tomeet the objective of spreading at header width.

Preferably the weed seed destructor section is mounted with an intake infront of the chopper housing and with the rotor and stator underneaththe chopper housing.

Preferably the guide wall component comprises a front wall portion ofthe chopper housing which is pivotal about an axis across a front of thechopper housing and parallel to the axis of the chopper rotor.

Preferably the guide wall component includes a front position whichextends from the chopper housing upward and forwardly so as to buttagainst or adjacent guide wall surfaces for the chaff and for the strawrespectively.

Preferably there is provided a quick disconnection for halting drive tothe rotor of the weed seed destructor when the wall portion is in in thesecond position.

According to another aspect of the invention as described herein thereis provided an apparatus for destroying weed seeds for use in a combineharvester where the combine harvester comprises a separation system forseparating from harvested crop at a first discharge location a firstmaterial comprising straw and at a second discharge location a secondmaterial comprising chaff and said weed seeds, the apparatus comprising:

a straw chopper section comprising:

-   -   a chopper housing arranged to receive from the first discharge        location the first material containing straw;    -   a chopper rotor mounted in the chopper housing having a        plurality of chopping blades for chopping the straw for        discharge from the first housing component;    -   and a spreading device for receiving the straw discharged from        the chopper housing and spreading the discharged straw to rear        and sides of the combine harvester;

a weed seed destructor section comprising:

-   -   a destructor housing arranged to receive from the second        discharge location the second material;    -   a rotor arrangement mounted in the destructor housing for        rotation about an axis and including rotor surfaces thereon for        engaging the second material and for accelerating the feed        material in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor;    -   a stator arrangement mounted at a location along the direction        and including a plurality of stator surfaces for engaging the        weed seeds in the accelerated second material to cause a        plurality of impacts with the weed seeds;    -   and at least one a discharge mouth for discharge of the second        material after the plurality of impacts;

at least the weed seed destructor being movable rearwardly of thecombine harvester to allow access to a position between the weed seeddestructor and the components of the combine harvester at the seconddischarge location.

Preferably the weed seed destructor section is slidable on a guide in arearward direction.

Preferably both the straw chopper section and the weed seed destructorsection are movable rearwardly of the combine harvester.

Preferably the weed seed destructor section is mounted with an intake infront of the chopper housing and with the rotor and stator underneaththe chopper housing.

According to another aspect of the invention as described herein thereis provided an apparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising:

a housing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine harvesterfor receiving from the location a feed material containing separatedchaff and weed seeds separated by the combine harvester from harvestedcrop;

a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and includingrotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and foraccelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis ofthe rotor;

a stator arranged at a location along the direction and including one ormore stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feedmaterial;

said stator and said one or more stator surfaces of the stator beingarranged such that the weed seeds impact on said one or more statorsurfaces and do not pass through the stator along said direction butinstead are rebounded therefrom back toward the rotor;

the rotor and stator being arranged such that the weed seeds reboundback and forth between the rotor and the stator to provide a pluralityof impacts on the accelerated feed material to destroy at least some ofthe weed seeds;

wherein the housing includes a discharge opening for discharge of thefeed material after the plurality of impacts, where the dischargeopening is at a location different from the stator so that said weedseeds discharged from the rotor through said discharge opening do notpass through the stator.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided anapparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising:

a housing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine harvesterfor receiving a feed material containing separated chaff and weed seedsseparated by the combine harvester from harvested crop;

a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and includingrotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and foraccelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis ofthe rotor;

at least one stator arranged at a location along the direction andcomprising a stator support member and a plurality of stator portionsmounted on the support member for engaging the weed seeds in theaccelerated feed material;

wherein at least one stator includes a frame with replaceable inserts.

Preferably inserts of different geometry can be utilized in the assembly

Preferably the inserts are a different hardness as compared with theframe

Preferably the inserts contain a different material than the statorframe.

Preferably therefore the discharge opening for discharge of the feedmaterial after the plurality of impacts the discarded seeds dischargefrom the rotor and do not pass through the stator but instead arerebounded away from the stator to discharge at a different location. Inthis way, any foreign bodies are not trapped in the stator to causedamage but instead can escape to the discharge.

In the preferred arrangement described in detail hereinafter, the rotorrotates around an axis so as to direct the discarded seeds centrifugallyoutwardly, and the stator surrounds the axis so as to rebound thediscarded seeds back toward the axis and the discharge opening isarranged such that the discarded seeds discharge axially from within thestator.

In one arrangement the rotor is mounted directly under the firstdischarge location of the combine harvester with the rotor axisgenerally upright so that the feed material fold directly into the topof the housing on to the rotor along the axial direction of the rotor.

As an alternate embodiment the apparatus comprises a horizontallyrotating tube, with auger fighting in the middle, moving the feedmaterial or chaff to an impact zone at each end of the horizontal rotor.The discharge zone is then at the end and is arranged to expel into thestraw chopper of the combine harvester.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the feed materialenters the housing axially of the rotor at one end and dischargesaxially from the opposite end of the rotor.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance there is provided afan component for driving the discarded seeds from the opposite endradially outwardly.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the stator includes aplurality of stator surfaces spaced angularly around the axis.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the stator surfacesare arranged at an angle to a tangent of an imaginary cylindricalsurface surrounding the axis.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the angle of thestator surfaces to the tangent is adjustable.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the stator surfacesand/or the rotor surfaces are arranged to pivot so as to increase thespacing therebetween to allow the passage of foreign objects between therotor and stator.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the stator surfacesare readily removable for replacement when damaged or worn.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the stator surfacesinclude one or more fins extending generally around the axis.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the housing whenviewed in plan longitudinal of the axis of the rotor is of polygonalshape to define a plurality of apexes at angularly spaced positionsaround the axis and the stator surface in plan view includes a pluralityof pairs of stator surfaces which form a V shape converging to arespective one of the apexes.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the rotational speedof the rotor is adjustable to change the number of impacts a seedencounters during its passage.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the velocity of airalong the rotor is adjustable to change the number of impacts a seedencounters during its passage.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the rotor and thestator are arranged so that the impacts act to move the discarded seedsalong the rotor so as to change the position along the rotor at whichthe impacts of the discarded seeds occurs.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance there is provided twohousings each including a rotor and stator arranged side by side acrossthe width of the discharge location.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance each of the housingsis rotatable about the axis of the respective rotor to change an angleof the discharge around the axis.

According to another aspect of the invention as described herein thereis provided an apparatus for destroying weed seeds for use in a combineharvester where the combine harvester comprises a separation system forseparating from harvested crop at a first discharge location feedmaterial including chaff and said weed seeds and at a second dischargelocation straw, the apparatus comprising:

a straw chopper section comprising:

-   -   a chopper housing for mounting at the second location on the        combine harvester for receiving from the first discharge        location a feed material containing separated straw separated by        the combine harvester from harvested crop;    -   a chopper rotor mounted in the housing for chopping the straw        for discharge from the housing;    -   and a spreading device onto which the discharged straw is        directed;

and a weed seed destruction section comprising:

-   -   a housing arranged to be mounted at the first location for        receiving from the first discharge location the feed material        containing separated chaff and said weed seeds;    -   a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and        including rotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material        and for accelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly        from the axis of the rotor;    -   a stator arranged at a location along the direction and        including one or more stator surfaces for engaging the weed        seeds in the accelerated feed material to cause impacts with the        weed seeds;    -   wherein the housing includes a discharge opening for discharge        of the feed material after the plurality of impacts;

wherein the straw chopper section and the weed seed destruction sectioncomprise a common unit.

Preferably the common unit includes is a common drive from the combineharvester to the common unit.

That is preferably the weed seed destruction section is driven from thestraw chopper section.

Optionally the weed seed destruction section is driven from anintermediate chopper drive shaft or jackshaft in parallel with the driveto the chopper. That is a main drive belt from the chopper drive outputpulley of the combine harvester communicates drive to a lay shaft orjack shaft and then two belts communicates in parallel to the horizontaltransverse shaft of the chopper rotor and the horizontal transversedrive shaft underneath the two rotors of the weed seed destructionsection

In the common unit preferably the weed seed destruction section isarranged such that material from the discharge opening can be fed intothe straw chopper section.

In this arrangement there are preferably provided two housings eachincluding a rotor and stator arranged side by side across the width ofthe second discharge location.

In this arrangement preferably each of the housings is rotatable aboutthe axis of the respective rotor to change an angle of the dischargearound the axis such that the discharge opening can be directed to theside of the combine away from the straw chopper, towards the guide finsof the tailboard of the chopper, or into the housing of the strawchopper.

In addition to the above defined features, the seed destruction sectioncan include any of the features previously defined.

The arrangement as described hereinafter may provide one or more of thefollowing features and advantages:

To provide a seed destroyer in which the residue does not pass throughrotating or stationary rings of objects so that there is less potentialfor damage on passage of a solid object.

To provide a seed destroyer in which the impacting members of thedestructor can be hard surface coated and easily removable for annualreplacement and preparation for the next harvest.

To provide a seed destroyer in which the number of hits a seed impactscan be adjusted or tuned for optimum destruction.

To provide a seed destroyer which can allow passage of debris such asrocks and other hard objects without damage or destruction, and hasreplaceable parts should the object cause damage.

To provide an integrally mounted seed destroyer in which the trajectoryof the discharge can be changed from the side of the combine, to theback of the combine tailboard, or into the chopper so that the residuecan be spread with the straw.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an apparatus for destruction of weedseeds according to the present invention which is arranged in a firstembodiment where the weed seed destruction section is mounted at aposition on a combine harvester at the rear of the sieve so as todischarge the chaff and destroyed seeds away from the straw chopper toboth sides of the combine harvester.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view from the front and one side of the combinedapparatus including the straw chopper section and the weed seeddestruction section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is an isometric view from the rear and the other side of thecombined apparatus including the straw chopper section and the weed seeddestruction section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the weed seed destruction section of FIG.1 separate from the combine harvester with the discharge housingarranged for discharge to the sides.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the weed seed destruction section of FIG. 3separate from the combine harvester with the discharge housing arrangedfor discharge to the rear.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the weed seed destruction section of FIG.3 with a part of the housing removed.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the weed seed destruction sectionaccording to the present invention which is arranged to feed thedischarged material into the chopper rotor of the straw chopper sectionat the center thereof.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the apparatus of FIG. 6 adjusted to feedthe discharged material into the straw chopper section at the sides soas to by-pass the rotor and feed directly onto the tailboard.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 showing thedrive system to the combined apparatus including the straw choppersection and the seed destructor section.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an alternative arrangement of the weed seeddestruction section where the rotors are arranged to rotate about ahorizontal axis and thus rotate in a vertical plane to dischargerearwardly.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of another embodiment of an apparatus fordestruction of weed seeds according to the present invention where FIG.10 shows the cross-section of the structure of the rotor assembly andthe left side only show the rotor, right side shows the rotor andstator.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view the embodiment of FIG. 10 where FIG. 11shows the structure of one rotor assembly with one cover removed.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 12-12 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of one stator frame of the embodiment ofFIGS. 10 including the replaceable stator components.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the stator frame of FIG. 13 with thereplaceable stator components inserted and showing a number ofalternative arrangements of the components.

FIG. 15 is an isometric view from below of one rotor of the embodimentof FIGS. 16

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale of one part ofthe apparatus of FIG. 10.

FIG. 17 is an isometric view from one side and the rear of the combinedapparatus including the straw chopper section and the weed seeddestruction section of the above Figures.

FIG. 18 is an isometric view from one side and the front of the combinedapparatus including the straw chopper section and the weed seeddestruction section of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIGS. 17 and 18mounted on a combine harvester and showing the apparatus in a rearwardlydisplaced position providing access to the sieve of the combineharvester

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIGS. 17 and 18mounted on a combine harvester and showing the apparatus in a firstoperating position in which the straw passes through the chopper housingand the chaff and weed seeds pass through the seed destructor section.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIGS. 17 and 18mounted on a combine harvester and showing the apparatus in a secondoperating position in which both the chaff and weed seeds and the strawpass through the chopper housing.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The apparatus herein is shown in FIG. 1 mounted on a combine harvester 1carried on ground wheels 3 and including harvesting components of aconventional nature the rearmost one of which is the sieve 2 whichdischarges chaff and discarded seeds including weed seeds to the rearedge 4 of the sieve.

The combine harvester includes a chopper and discharge arrangement 9shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 is basically as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,854issued Jan. 11 2005 of Redekop, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference. The chopper thus comprises a housing 10 defined bya top wall 11, a bottom wall 12 and two end walls 13. The end walls 13include attachment means 13A for attachment of the housing to the outletof a combine harvester for discharge of straw and optionally chaff fromthe combine harvester into an inlet opening 15 of the housing 10. Thebottom wall 12 defines a semi-cylindrical portion extending from theinlet 15 to an outlet 16 through which chopped straw and air isdischarged at relatively high velocity for spreading across the field orfor transportation into a container.

Within the housing is mounted a hub 17 which is carried on suitablebearings 31 for rotation about a hub axis 18 at a center of the housingso that blade members 19 carried by the hub sweep around within thehousing to entrap straw fed through the inlet 15 and to carry the strawand air past stationary blades 20 for chopping and for discharge throughthe outlet 16. The stationary blades 20 are mounted on the housing at aposition approximately midway between the inlet 15 and the outlet 16 sothat the blade members 19 sweep between the stationary blades in acutting action.

The hub 17 carries a plurality of lugs 21 at angularly and axiallyspaced positions therealong with each lug mounting a pair of blades 19for pivotal movement of the blade members 19 about a pin 22 parallel tothe axis 18. Each of the lugs 21 carries a pair of the blades 19. Eachlug 21 is aligned with a respective one of the stationary blades 20 sothat each stationary blade has associated with it a respective one ofthe lugs and thus has associated with it the pair of blades carried bythat lug.

In this arrangement of the chopper, there is provided three axiallyspaced sections of the chopper assembly including a first fan section 30at one end of the hub 17 and the second fan section at the other end ofthe hub 17. In-between the two narrow fan sections 30 is defined acenter section 30A which provides the whole of the cutting action.

Within the center section 30A all of the blades 19 are formed with acutting edge lying in a radial plane of the axis. The blades arepreferably of the conventional flat blade type with a leading andtrailing chamfered edge. Thus each of the two cutting blades 19 in thecenter section can pass closely on either side of a respective one ofthe stationary blades 20. Thus the stationary blades can be spaced by adistance which is just sufficient to allow the passage there between ofthe preferably flat cutting blade. In the preferred arrangement, thespacing between the stationary blades is thus small in that thestationary blades are not sufficiently spaced to allow the passage therebetween of a fan type blade.

In the fan sections 30, there is provided a ring 33 which is mounted onthe hub 17 at a respective end of the hub. The ring thus surrounds thecylindrical wall of the hub and stands outwardly therefrom just beyondthe end of the center section defined by the stationary blades and theblades 19 carried on the hub.

The rings 33 each carry a plurality of fan blades 34 at spaced positionsaround the ring. The fan blades 34 are arranged thus so that each followdirectly behind the next at the same axial location.

Each of the fan blades 34 is bent with a fan blade portion so that eachof the fan blades is of the shape shown in FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No.5,482,508 of Redekop, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference. However the fan blades 34 do not necessarily have a sharpenedleading edge since there is intended to be no cutting action in the fansection. Thus the fan blades are spaced from the end most stationaryblade 19 so that in effect no cutting action occurs in this section.

The bent fan blade portion stands outwardly to one side of the flatplate portion of the fan blade 34. The fan blade portion which is bentat right angles to the main body of the fan blade is maximised indimension so that it may be rectangular. This large blade area togetherwith the presence of the six blades provides a large fan blade areawhich generates a significant air flow.

The fan blade portion is inclined forwardly and outwardly so that at aregularly outer position toward the outer end of each fan blade the fanblade portion is angularly advanced relative to its position closer tothe axis of the hub. This incline outwardly and forwardly significantlyincreases the air flow effect driving the air in the greater volume andat higher speed radially from the fan section and outwardly of the exit16.

Preferably the fan section comprises only a single row of the six fanblades but in some cases an additional row or rows may be providedalthough this is not preferred. The fan blades are arranged immediatelyadjacent the end walls 13 so that they take up minimum space at the endof the chopper assembly. It will be appreciated that the intention is toprovide maximum air flow in the fan sections while taking up minimumdimensions so that the maximised chopping effect to provide shortestmaterial is achieved within the center section using the flat blades.

The above arrangement of straw chopper section is one example only ofarrangements which can be used herein.

The chopper and spreading assembly 9 is arranged to be mounted at a rearstraw discharge 101 of the combine harvester 1 and includes the housing10, the rotor 17 mounted in the housing 10 for rotation around agenerally horizontal axis and carrying the plurality of chopper blades19 for chopping the discharge material.

At the exit 16 is provided the material spreading assembly which can bethe form of a tailboard 16A with guide fins 16B for receiving thechopped material and spreading the material to the rear and sides of thecombine harvester.

An apparatus 35 for destroying seeds comprises a body 36 carried on aframe 37 mounted at a suitable location on the combine harvester bymounting arrangements of a conventional arrangement. The body providestwo side by side housings 38, 39 each located adjacent a respected halfof the discharge location the feed material containing separated chaffand discarded seeds separated by the combine harvester from harvestedcrop. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the housings are located at therear edge 4 of the sieve 2.

Each of the housings, as best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 includes anupper impact section 40 and a lower fan section 41. The upper section 40includes a housing 42 which is polygonal (in this example octagonal) inplan view with apexes 43A, 43B, 43C etc. The housing 42 includes a topwall 44 connected to the polygonal side wall and defining a circularopening 45 arranged to be mounted at the discharge location of a combineharvester for receiving from the sieve the chaff and discarded seedsincluding the weed seeds.

A rotor 46 is mounted in the housing for rotation about an upstandingaxis 47 at right angles to a bottom base of the housing axis. The rotorincludes a cylindrical hub 46A carrying upper and lower sets of blades46B and 46C. The sets are spaced axially. The individual blades of theset are spaced angularly. The sets are carried above and belowrespectively a series of angularly spaced lugs 46D on pins 46E so as toact as blades.

Each blade includes as best shown in FIG. 5 a base plate 46F lying in aradial plane and a blade portion 46G turned out of the radial plane soas to act as a fan blade to drive entrained air and the materialcentrifugally outwardly from the axis of the rotor.

Thus the rotor includes components thereon defined by the two sets ofblades for engaging the feed material and for accelerating the feedmaterial in a centrifugal direction away from the rotor.

In the housing around the rotor is provided a stator 48 defined by theinside surface of the polygonal housing 40 and arranged at a locationcentrifugally outside the rotor 46 so that the material and discardedseeds thrown outwardly impact on the stator. The stator includes aseries of surface elements 48A for engaging the discarded seeds in theaccelerated material and arranged such that the discarded seeds impactthereon and rebound therefrom back toward the rotor.

Thus the rotor 46 and stator 48 are arranged such that the discardedseeds rebound back and forth between the rotor 46 and the stator 48 toprovide a plurality of impacts on the feed material to destroy theseeds.

The housing includes a discharge opening defined by a circular inneredge 50A of a plate 50 lying in a radial plane of the housing betweenthe impact section 40 and the fan section 41. Thus the bottom of theimpact section is defined by the bottom plate 50 so that air and theentrained material is directed downwardly into the fan section fordischarge of the feed material after the plurality of impacts. As theair and entrained material passes downwardly, the discarded seedsdischarge from the rotor and do not pass or escape outwardly through thestator 48. That is the stator wholly or substantially wholly surroundsthe rotor section to prevent the seeds from escaping radially. That isall of the seeds are rebounded back inwardly to the rotor and movedownwardly while rebounding back and forth until they pass out of theimpact section at the bottom through the hole 50A in the plate 50 intothe fan section 41.

Thus the rotor 46 rotates around the axis 47 so as to direct thediscarded seeds centrifugally outwardly. The stator 48 surrounds theaxis 47 so as to rebound the discarded seeds back toward the axis andthe discharge opening is arranged such that the discarded seedsdischarge axially from within the stator. In this way, the feed materialcontaining the discarded seeds enters the housing axially of the rotorat the top end and discharges axially from the bottom end of the rotorinto the fan section, where the material is accelerated radiallyoutwardly into a channel defined by a peripheral wall 41A which spiralsgradually outwardly from a leading edge to a trailing edge 41B so as todefine an outlet location 41C.

Thus the fan section 41 shown in plan in FIG. 4 at the top includes aseries of blades 41F carried on the rotor 46A underneath the plate 50 sothat the fan components act for driving the discarded seeds from theopposite or bottom end of the rotor 46 radially outwardly to thedischarge opening 41C at the trailing edge 41B.

As best shown in FIG. 5, each of the stator surfaces 48A comprises agenerally V-shaped body with two walls 48B and 48C converging to an apex48D which is located at one of the apexes of the polygonally shapedhousing. In FIG. 5 is shown one of the stator surfaces 48A and it willbe noted that the wall 48C against which the seeds are primarilydirected as the rotor 46 turns clockwise is arranged at an angle to atangent T of an imaginary cylindrical surface surrounding the axis. Thusthe surface 48C is inclined forwardly and inwardly so that the seedsmoving with the rotor and outwardly of the rotor impact against thesurface 48C and are rebounded inwardly. The stator surface portion 48Ais mounted at the apex 48D by a hinge pin 48H which allows the angle ofthe stator surface 48C to the tangent T to be adjustable to change thelevel of aggression in the rebound action.

Also the hinged mounting of the stator surface portion 48A allows thestator surfaces to pivot to allow the passage of foreign objects betweenthe rotor 46 at the outer tip of the blades 46B, 46C and stator asdefined by the surface portions 48A. Also the stator surface portionsare readily removable for replacement by pulling the support pin 48Hwhen damaged or worn.

Also the stator surface portions 48A include one or more fins 48G lyingin a plane at right angles to the walls 48B, 48C and thus extending in aradial plane around the rotor. The stator has an octagonal shape andthere are four of the stator surface portions 48A at four of the apexesof the polygon leaving the remainder of the inner surface of the octagonexposed to act as the stator surface. This stator surface surrounds thewhole of the rotor and hence prevents outward escape of any material,thus confining the material to move downwardly into the fan section forejection.

The rotor 46 which carries both the blades of the impact section and fanblades 41F of the discharge fan section 41 as best shown in FIG. 8, isdriven by a hydraulic drive motor 46H, the rotational speed of which isadjustable to change the speed of the impact blades and thus the numberof impacts a seed encounters during its passage.

Also the velocity of air along the rotor through the impact section fromthe opening at the top plate 44 to the discharge plate 50 is adjustableto change the number of impacts a seed encounters during its passage.

The rotor and particularly the stator are shaped and arranged so thatthe impacts and rebounding action act to move the discarded seeds alongthe rotor from the feed opening at the top plate 44 to the dischargeopening at the plate 50 so as to change the position along the rotor atwhich the impacts of the discarded seeds occurs. Thus the seeds as theyrebound back and forth move through the impact section at a ratedepending on the shape and position of the stator surfaces and dependingon the rotation rate of the rotor and the air speed through the impactsection.

In a typical walker style combine there is a large space between chopper9 and the end of the sieve 2. In this case the seed destructor 36 ismounted at the end of the sieve 2. In this position, the dischargeopenings 41C of the fan section 41 are located by rotating the housings38, 39 so that the seed destructor discharge is set to the side becausethe discharges are not close enough to the chopper 9 to allow feedinginto the chopper.

The seed destructor is made up of two rotating drums or rotors 46 withinthe housings 38 and 39 rotating in opposite directions. The housings arerotatably mounted on the frame 37 so that the discharge 41C can bepointed in the direction required. Although this is shown as a fixedmounting it could be easily designed as a movable mounting so theoperator could change it quickly as desired. In one arrangement theadjustment can be obtained conveniently by rotation of the housingaround the axis of the rotor.

The impact section 40 contains in the stator 48 replaceable, adjustableimpact plates or surface portions 48A, in which the residue that isdropped into the seed destructor housing is flung against by the rotors46 with blades 46B and 46C. The residue is deflected back by the statorinto the rotating blades for another hit.

The fan section 41 at the bottom of the housing acts to accelerate theresidue for spreading back onto the field or into the chopper or intothe chopper fins as desired.

The rotors can be driven by hydraulic motors which power and mount therotating hubs 46 in which case the motors are mounted to the frame 37.

The impact plates 48A are rotatably adjustable at the apex 48D anddesigned to deflect the residue back into the high speed blades. Theguide fins 48G on the impact plates serve to control the angle that theresidue is deflected and therefore the number of times the residuerotates in the housing and thus the number of hits a seed encounters inits passage through the destructor. The impact plates 48A arereplaceable and are hard surface coated for a longer life.

At the bottom of the housing assembly below the fan section 41 isprovided a bottom plate 60 closing the bottom of the fan section 41below the plate 50. In the plate 60 is defined an air inletschematically indicated at 62 which regulates the flow of exterior airinto the fan section through the plate 60. The opening size of the airinlet 62 can also be varied by an adjustment 62A. As the adjustment 62Acontrol the amount of air entering into the fan section, this adjustmentincreases or reduces the amount of air drawn through the opening 50A inthe plate 50 and thus also serves to change the speed of the residueflowing through the assembly. The air inlet 62 can be regulated so that,as it is closed off, the speed of the residue flow increases, to thepoint when closed, all air is sucked in from the top of the assembly atthe plate 44, to be discharged with the fan in the discharge zone 41.When entirely opened the majority of the air is drawn from the bottomplate 60 of the assembly and the speed of the residue flowing throughthe assembly is reduced allowing for more impacts.

A third method to adjust the number of impacts a seed encounters throughthe assembly is of course with the speed of the rotor 46. The drivesystem to the rotor can be controlled by the combine or by a separatedriver operated control and the speed of the assembly can be increasedor decreased depending on factors such as seed size, residue toughness,or residue size including factors such as corn cob size and moisturecontent or sunflower head size.

In a preferred arrangement, the seed destructor section 36 is integratedinto the chopper 9 as a common unit with the chopper 9. In thisarrangement the seed destruction section 36 acts two receive all residuefrom the sieves. The weed seeds are destroyed in the seed destructor andcan be ejected into the chopper for spread with the straw residue on thetailboard 16A.

In this arrangement the combination of all of the residue from both thesieves and the straw exit into the chopper allows the destroyed seedsand chaff residue to mix with the straw residue and be spread in a muchwider spread pattern. That is in FIG. 6, the discharge openings 41C fromthe fan section 41 of the seed destruction section 36 are turned on theframe 37 so that they are directed to the center of the inlet 12 of thechopper 9.

Alternatively the chaff residue and destroyed seeds expelled from theseed destructor at the discharge openings 41C is expelled at the sidesof the chopper at the fan sections 30 so as to bypass the center choppersection of the chopper so as to be directed by the chopper into the finsof the chopper for mixing on the tailboard 16A and spreading with thestraw residue from the chopper.

As a third option, the discharge openings 41C can be positioned to theside to spread to the side of the combine as shown in FIG. 1. Thus theseed destruction section 36 is a part of or closely associated with thechopper 9. However the position of the outlet in the embodiment of FIG.20 can be adjusted to the side in the same manner by rotation of thehousings on the frame 37.

Thus the destruction section 36 and the chopper 9 form a common unitwhich can be supplied as a common assembly for attachment to the combineharvester. The common unit may include a common frame. The common unitcan include a common drive arrangement by which a single output drivefrom the combine harvester is directed to the common unit and thendirected by the drive mechanism to the chopper rotor and to the seeddestruction section. The common unit can be arranged so that in one ormore adjustment positions of the seed of destruction section the outputfrom the fan section is directed into the chopper for commondistribution into the field. It is also possible in this arrangementthat the seed destruction section be adjusted so that the outputtherefrom is directed into the field bypassing the chopper.

In an arrangement where the space between the sieve 2 and the strawoutlet is greater than can be accommodated by direct feed from the sieveinto the inlet of the seed destruction section, a feed duct or othertransfer arrangement can be provided.

Thus the combined apparatus comprises the straw chopper 9 as describedabove together with the apparatus for destroying weed seeds as describedabove where the discharge opening of the housing is arranged such thatthe discharge opening can be directed to the side of the combine awayfrom the straw chopper, towards the guide fins of the tailboard of thechopper, or into the housing of the straw chopper.

As an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 8 the apparatus can be designedas a horizontal tube 70 into which the material is fed from the sieve 2by a feed duct 2A. This can be readily located at this position by acombine manufacturer as a horizontal duct in their combine at a positionahead of the rear discharge for chaff.

The tube 70 has a transverse shaft 71 driven at one end 72 and carriedon end walls of the tube 70 at bearings 73. The shaft carries augerfighting 74A, 74B in the middle moving chaff outwardly to an impact zone75 at each end of the horizontal rotor. The arrangement thus provides aseed destructor symmetrical to and operating in the same manner as thatpreviously described but arranged in an orientation at 90 degrees tothat shown previously and rotating in a vertical plane about ahorizontal axis defined by the shaft 71. Thus the destructor 75 includesa rotor 77 and stator 78 as previously described and a fan section 79 sothat the discharge zone 76 is located at the end to expel into asecondary spreading device, or into a straw chopper or into the tailboard fins of the straw chopper.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 8 housing of the chopper section 9 and the seeddestructor section 35 are formed as a common or integral constructioncoupled together as single or common unit which can be mounted on thecombine harvester at the rear of the combine so as to be associated withthe rear straw discharge and the rear chaff discharge.

The chopper 9 has an input drive pulley 9A connected to the rotor 17driven by a belt 9C or other drive component or pulley assembly 9B fromthe combine. In addition the pulley 9A of the chopper drives an outputpulley 9D which communicates drive to the seed of destruction section 35through a pulley 9E driven by a belt 9F. In the arrangement shown thepulleys 9A and 9D are mounted at the same end of the rotor 17 but thisis not essential. The drive 9B to the chopper can be as shown where theoutput shaft 9G of the combine drives a belt 9H connected to a pulleysystem 9K to drive the belt 9C; but of course other drive arrangementscan be used such as a shaft from an output gearbox.

A shroud or hood 35A is over the seed destructor section to allow forthe chaff to be directed underneath the hood into the seed destructor. Aroller 35B is required at the leading edge of the hood 35A to eliminatematerial buildup on the leading edge which could cause possibleplugging. The roller rotates in a clockwise direction at 200-500 rpm toroll any long straw over to the chopper section 9 while the chaff andweed seeds flow under the hood the destructor section 35.

While the arrangement shown herein is shown as an externally mountedchopper carried on the combine harvester at the rear straw discharge,some combines include an internal chopper mounted in the housing at aposition in advance of the rear discharge. In this arrangement the seeddestructor section can be located at the chaff discharge and arranged todirect material into the internal chopper or away from the internalchopper to the ground. In this case the internal chopper does notcooperate directly with a spreading system such as a tail board.

Turning now to FIGS. 10 to 16, there is shown a modified embodiment ofthe seed destructor which includes two separate destructor elements sideby side each including a housing 80 with base 81 and a spiral outersurface 82 upstanding from the base and extending to an outlet ordischarge mouth 96. The base and outer surface are covered by a topplanar cover panel 801 which has an opening 83 Inside a center part ofthe spiral which defines a central inlet for feeding the material fromthe sieve containing the chaff and weed seeds onto a rotor 84 mounted ona hub 85. Around the hub 85 is provided a plurality of pivot pins orbolts 86 each carrying a pair of flailblades 87. The blades extend froman inner end with a plurality of fingers extending into connection tothe pin 86 between a plurality of disks 844 of the hub 85. An outer endof the blade 85 broadens in the axial direction of the axis of the hubas shown at 842 and terminates in an edge 843 lying in an imaginarycylindrical surface surrounding the axis. The blades can retractinwardly by pivotal movement in the event of impact with a largerobject. Thus the blades are pivotally mounted about an axis parallel tothe rotor axis so as to act as flails. Also each of the rotor bladesincludes a sharpened cutting edge 84C radial to the axis and a fan bladeportion 84F generally axial of the axis so that the blades are of asimilar construction to those used in the chopper and described above.

Around the rotor is provided a stator formed by two stationary annularcoaxial cylinders 89 and 90 with cylinder 89 inside the cylinder 90. Thestator cylinders are carried on the base 81 so as to stand upwardlytherefrom or they may be attached to the top cover so that they hangdown from an upper annular flange 891 fixed to the cover. Shown in FIG.12 a seal 201 is provided to limit the passage of weed seed from thecentral inlet to the outlet through the clearance between the rotor andstator. The sealing ring 201 forces the weed seeds to contact the statorand rotor thus devitalizing the seed.

The base 81 is carried on a beam 811 which mounts the two destructorelements side by side and provides drive through an input shaft 812 andtwo gear boxes 813, 814 to the upstanding shafts 81X driving the hubs85. The cover 801 is rigidly fixed and centered on the beam 811 so as tohold the stator in fixed coaxial relationship with the rotor againstmovement which could allow interference between the rapidly rotatingrotors and the stator cylinders.

Each stator cylinder is of the construction shown in FIG. 14 andincludes the top flange 891, a bottom ring 892 parallel to the flangeand a plurality of upstanding connecting rails 893 to form a rigidstructure as shown in FIG. 13.

The stator cylinder has a plurality of stator inserts 894 closing thespace between the flange 891 and the bottom ring 892. Each insert formsa part cylindrical surface which extends around the axis by a limitedangle. As shown in FIG. 13 there are six such inserts each covering anangle of the order of 60 degrees so that the plurality of insertscooperate to surround the axis. The number of bars in the inserts can beselected to increase or decrease the number of openings and the angularextent of the plates can be selected to determine the angle over whichthe opening extends.

Each stator insert 894 is made up of a number of impact bars. Typicallythe insert is formed with two cylindrical flanges of a suitable metalwhich is then laser cut to form holes in an array to mount the impactbars. Different constructions of plate can be provided with differentarrays and sizes of impact bars to provide a different grinding orimpacting effect on the material in engagement with the plates. Theinserts are shaped with an angled edge flange 897 which is shaped toengage against a side edge of a suitably shaped one of the rails 893.Thus as shown in FIG. 13, the ends 897 of the plates 894 engage againstsides of the rails 898 and 899 with the opening 895 therebetween.Additional rails 901 between the end rails act as supports engaging theouter surface of the wall of the plate.

In FIG. 14, three types of stator inserts are shown, of which many morestyles could be envisioned, which can be selected for use in the baseframe of FIG. 13. In one insert the bars are round and shown extendingin the vertical direction. In another insert the bars have a sharpsquare edge to quickly remove seed from the mill. In the third type ofinsert shown at 902, the insert is formed by a series of tightly spacedround bars 903 arranged with reduced openings between the bars to keepthe seeds in the mill longer and thus create more damaging impacts. Inpractice the different inserts are used together at different locationsin the mill to create the desired devitalization properties.

As shown in FIG. 14 therefore the mill includes at least one statorwhich includes an external frame with top and bottom rails containingreplaceable inserts. This allows inserts of different geometry to beutilized in the assembly as selected depending on the type of seeds andconditions involved in the operation. Thus the different types ofinserts using the different shape and spacing of the bars can be used toobtain the different effects. The system may use inserts only of onetype or of different types as required. In order to provide the bestwear characteristics, the inserts can be of a different hardness ascompared with the frame allowing the frame to be constructed in adifferent manner than the inserts which require typically a greaterhardness. The smaller components of the inserts allow a more effectivehardening process to be used. In particular, the inserts can contain orcomprise a different material than the stator frame.

In operation, the rotor flails 87 acts to accelerate, impact and directthe material across the inside surface of the inner stator insert 89 toimpact, shear and force some of the material through the bars.. Theouter edge 843 of the flail blade thus acts to direct the material crossthe inside surface of the selected stator insert with the edge 843having a height substantially matching the height of the insert.

That material which does not escape through the bars 896 is carriedaround the inner surface of the insert 894 to the next one of aplurality of discharge slots or holes 895 around the plate 894. Thematerial sliding on the inner surface thus can escape through the innerstator 89 to the next outer annular stator 90. Between the two stators89, 90 is a ring of posts 92 which are attached to a base plate of therotor so as to rotate with the center hub and flail blades. These postsact to impact, accelerate and shear the material round the insidesurface of the outer stator 90.

The stator 90 has the same structure as the stator 89 but of increaseddiameter. Again there is a plurality of separate stator inserts 906 atangularly spaced positions. The outer stator therefore operates in thesame manner under the rotation impetus on the material from the posts 92to impact and shear the material and then to allow any remainingmaterial remaining on the inner surface of the outer stator to escapeoutwardly through the openings 907 in the outer stator. The materialescaping the slots is accelerated angularly by a final series of posts94 attached to the rotating base of the rotor so that the material isflung outwardly and angularly against the outer stator surface 82.

Each stator which is in the form of a ring or cylinder supported fromthe top cover and located between the components of the rotor is thusformed from the fixed base frame shown in FIG. 13 with a plurality oflocations each for mounting a respective one of the stator platecomponents with an outlet opening between each component and the next.As shown in FIG. 14, different forms of the stator inserts can then beselected for use with the frame of FIG. 13 and installed and replaced asrequired.

The use of separate stator inserts provides replaceable statorcomponents which have a number of advantages which include:

-a- simple service, it is possible to replace and discard small parts ofthe stator rather than the entire stator ring.

-b- customer cost, the arrangement provides lower cost service parts,longer lasting parts with the possibility that the smaller parts of thecomponents alone can be made harder.

-c- manufacturing advantage, the components individually are lower cost,higher volume of a smaller part allowing economy of scale to providecheaper manufacturing.

-d- material, the manufacture of a smaller part allows the use of ahigher value material for that part while the frame itself can bemanufactured from other materials. This allows less material to be used,allows for harder or heat treatable material to be used for the wearsurfaces of the replaceable stator components while softer, more ductileor weldable material can be used in the frame. In particular the statorcomponents or plates form small parts which are suitable for hardsurfacing or carbide coating processes to provide increased hardness andwear resistance.

-e- Stator selection; this allows for different stator wear surfaceprofiles, that is different shapes and arrangements of impact bars, tobe selectable to best match to typical weed seed targets in each farmingregion. That is different regions in the world have different weedproblems, so that the system of the present invention allows use of acommon support frame and different wear inserts to best target theefficacy of the desired weed seed in that region.

-f- Stator Style; the system can provide different styles of statorinserts to cover different manufacturers particular design of thestator. That is the stator component can carry a series of differentimpact elements 903 arranged on the component around the angular extentof the component with tighter impact elements separated by insertsdesigned to discharge seeds to the next stage.

The stator impact surfaces 903 can be movable in an adjustment movementabout an axis parallel to the rotor axis so that the surface pivotsrelative to a tangent to the axis of the rotor so as to change thenumber of impacts caused to each weed seed. The replaceable statorsurfaces may hard surface coated with a suitable material such ascarbide which reduces impact damage. One or both stators 89 and 90defined by the annular frame and the supported stator components can beadjusted by rotation around the axis of the rotor so as to move theposition of the slots 895. This acts to change the distance that thematerial must traverse before it reaches a larger opening between impactbars.

As shown in FIG. 12, the angular position of the stators 89 and 91 isadjustable around the axis X of the hub to move the openings 895angularly. If the wider openings 895 of the inner stator 89 are locatedat an angular portions so that they are aligned with the widest openings895 of the outer stator then any material exiting the openings of theinner stator will typically escape from the second stator by directradial movement through both openings simultaneously thus minimizing anyprocessing by the outer stator. Movement of one or both of the statorsso that the inserts with the widest openings are not aligned willincrease the effective processing by the second outer stator. It will beappreciated that this processing can be adjusted from a position ofminimum processing where the widest opening are aligned to a position ofmaximum processing where each opening in the inner stator dischargesonto the outer stator at a distance which is at the beginning of theadjacent stator component so that the material must traverse the wholesurface of the narrowest opening insert before reaching an insert with awide opening 895 in the outer stator. Also as shown in FIG. 11 areactuators 911 912 operated by a control 913 where the control is in thecab for on-the-go control of the position of the stators.

It will be appreciated that the weed destructor herein uses asignificant amount of power to drive when empty and an increased amountwhen filled with the crop materials. This power can be minimized bybypassing the device as described herein and by disconnecting the drivethereto when no treatment of the crop materials is required. The powercan be reduced as above by moving the stators to the most effectiveposition with minimum crop treatment.

Thus the system herein provides adjustability of stator positions on thego, the advantages of which include:

-a- Setting the stator contact surface to produce the best efficacy rateto match weed problems in field while reducing power requirements.

-b- Reducing power by reducing stator contact time of the crop material.This is a significant advantage includes which allows increased combineharvest capacity as current destructor systems are reducing a farmer'sthreshing capacity by up to 30% as well as reduced fuel consumption.

-c- Manual Adjustment on the go by In Cab control of an actuator allowsthe operator to change as they enter visible weed problem areas in thefield. The actuator drives relative position of the stator rings tochange the number of impact surfaces a seed encounters as it passesthrough the mill.

-d- Automatic Adjustment on the go allows an operator to develop a GPSmap of a weed problem by aerial surveillance or when mid-seasonspraying. This information can be used to adjust the stator positionsfor maximum seed efficacy using maximum power in that area and reducecontact surface after the combine passes through the weed area.

As shown in FIG. 15 the rotor also includes an additional swinging bladeelement outside of the outer stator element. This is used to overcomeproblems encountered in green re-growth areas of fields. It is typicalfor combine operators to desire to “mow down” green areas of the fieldas they often represent weed infested areas. This usually results in theheavy green material falling from the combine beater down onto thesieves, rather than being thrown to the chopper. Thus this greenmaterial is carried into the inlets 83 of the destructor units. In anarrangement where the stator surface acts as the last obstacle beforethe residue is ejected from the housing, this wet sticky material pilesup and blocks the exit 96 of the housing. In this arrangement,mechanical ejection by a blade is provided to ensure the mill remainsclear in conditions with heavy, wet or damp materials. As shown theblade 100 comprises a flat blade with a cutting edge 101 and an inclineddownturned fan blade portion 102 to create more airflow thus dischargingany buildup with contact and increased airflow.

As set forth above the rotor surfaces and optionally the stator surfacesare arranged to pivot to a position to increase a spacing between thestator and rotor surfaces to allow the passage of foreign objectsbetween the rotor and stator surfaces.

The rotational speed of the rotor is adjustable to change the number ofimpacts a seed encounters during its passage.

In at least one stage, therefore, the weed seeds do not pass through thestator but are rebounded between the rotor and the stator. The rotoralso propels the weed seed from the housing without needing to passthrough an outside stator surface so that a higher exit velocity isobtained.

Turning now to FIGS. 17 to 21 there is shown a further embodiment ofapparatus for destroying weed seeds which is similar to that shown inFIG. 8 in that it includes a straw chopper section 9 and a weed seeddestructor section 35. The section 35 is of the construction shown inFIG. 10 so that it has an inlet 351 in the center of the housing 80which is fed by a par of inlet chutes 352 taking the feed from acrossthe sieve 354 which drops into a channel 353. Thus the intake of thedestructor 35 is located in front (with respect to the direction oftravel) of the chopper housing and with the rotor and stator underneaththe chopper housing.

As best shown in FIG. 20, the destructor 35 is mounted on the housing ofthe chopper at a position lower than in FIG. 8 so that the top wall ofthe destructor 35 is underneath the bottom wall 355 of the chopperhousing. Thus the discharge mouths 96 release the chaff and weed seedsfrom a position below the chopper that is underneath the bottom wall ofthe chopper housing so as to direct the second material along thedirection F underneath the bottom wall 355 directly onto the tailboard16A forming the spreading device. Thus the tailboard 16A is inclineddownwardly and the chaff is fed onto the tailboard to join with thestraw and airflow from the chopper so that both materials are spread ina common action by the fins 16B. This acts to provide an improvedspreading action on the chaff which tends to be very light and fluffydue to its passage through the destructor. Thus the added momentum fromthe heavier and more dense straw is communicated to the fluffier chaffto provide a full spreading action which can match the cutting width ofthe header.

As shown by comparing FIGS. 20 and 21 the guide channel 353 includes aguide wall component 356 movable between a first position shown in FIG.14 and a second position shown in FIG. 21.

In FIG. 20 the chaff and weed seeds from the sieve are directed into theweed seed destructor, while the straw from the first discharge locationenters the chopper housing. This is achieved by moving the component 356from a position in FIG. 20 which is raised so that the chaff passesunderneath the component. Thus the component includes a portion 360defining a front wall of the chopper and an upper tip portion 357 whichcontacts a guide surface 361 of the straw channel from the combine. InFIG. 21 the component 356 Is moved so that the tip portion 357 engages aguide surface 359 of the chaff transfer channel from the sieve 354. Thusin the second position shown in FIG. 21 the component 356 shuts off theflow to the destructor 35 and instead directs the chaff and weed seedsfrom the second discharge location into the chopper housing with thestraw.

The guide wall component 356 comprises the front wall portion 360 of thechopper housing which is pivotal about an axis 364 across a front of thechopper housing and parallel to the axis of the chopper rotor.

When the system is arranged to bypass the destructor as shown in FIG.21, a clutch 362 is operated to halt drive to the rotors of the weedseed destructor 35 from the input drive shaft 363.

Adjustment of the passage of chaff into the mill and powering of themill on the go provides advantages:

-a- Based on either IN CAB operator control or GPS control, an actuatordrives the door 356 at the front of the chopper to bypass the mill andflow all residue into the chopper or alternately direct chaff into themill and only straw into the chopper, thus saving power, time, combinecapacity when not needed.

-b- At the same time the actuator operates the clutch 362 to stop themill from turning when not needed, thus eliminating the empty mill powerrequirement, which is typically about 30HP.

As best shown by comparing FIGS. 19 and 20, the destructor 35 and thechopper 9 are formed as a common unit which is movable rearwardly of thecombine harvester along a track 401. The common unit can thus take upthe operating position shown in FIG. 20 where the chopper inlet isaligned with the straw supply duct and the destructor inlet 351 isaligned with the chaff inlet from the sieve 354. Also the combined unitcan move to the rearward position shown in FIG. 19 where the destructoris moved rearwardly of the combine harvester away from the sieve 354 toallow access to a position between the destructor 35 and the sieve ofthe combine harvester. This allows the operator to access the sieve byentering an opening 402 in front of the destructor 35 and behind theaxle of the combine to visibly inspect the sieve.

Thus at least the weed seed destructor section 35 and optionally alsothe chopper section is slidable on the guide 401 in a rearwarddirection. The guide 401 includes a pair of tracks each on a respectiveside wall of the combine harvester and a suitable slide component on thecommon unit.

The drive for the weed seed destruction section is driven from theslow-speed drive of the chopper. A selector on the chopper allows thechopper to operate in either high speed or low speed. Therefore thechopper can be selected to operate in low speed with the weed seeddestruction section still operating. Therefore either chopper speed canbe selected without effecting the operation of the weed seed destructionsection.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein abovedescribed, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same madewithin the spirit and scope of the claims without department from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only andnot in a limiting sense.

1. Apparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising: a housing arranged tobe mounted at a location on a combine harvester for receiving a feedmaterial containing separated chaff and weed seeds separated by thecombine harvester from harvested crop; a rotor mounted in the housingfor rotation about an axis and including rotor surfaces thereon forengaging the feed material and for accelerating the feed material in adirection outwardly from the axis of the rotor; at least one statorarranged at a location along the direction and comprising a statorsupport member and a plurality of stator portions mounted on the supportmember for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feed material;wherein there is provided a generally horizontal shaft mounted on thehousing and including a gear box for driving a generally upstandingdrive shaft and wherein the rotor is mounted on the drive shaft on topof the horizontal shaft.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 whereinthe stator support member is cylindrical so as to surround the axis ofthe rotor and the stator portions are part cylindrical with each of theplurality of stator portions extending around a part only of theperiphery of the support member.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2wherein there is provided a discharge opening between each statorportion and the next.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 whereinthere are provided inner and outer coaxial cylindrical stators.
 5. Theapparatus according to claim 4 wherein there are provided rotorcomponents between the inner and outer stators.
 6. The apparatusaccording to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein each stator portioncomprises a plurality of upstanding impact posts at spaced positionsaround the axis.
 7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6comprising a plurality of the stator portions having differentcharacteristics which can be selected for different weed seed sizes. 8.The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the statorportions are hard surface coated as a separate component from thesupport member.
 9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8wherein each of the stator portions comprises mounting edges atangularly spaced ends of the portion for attachment to a rail of thesupport member.
 10. The apparatus according to any preceding claimwherein the support member comprises a top and bottom ring around theaxis of the rotor with a plurality of rails parallel to the rotor axis.11. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 10 wherein each ofthe stator portions comprises an angularly spaced row of deflectorsurfaces parallel to the rotor axis.
 12. The apparatus according to anyone of claims 2 to 11 wherein the stator includes a plurality ofdischarge openings at angularly spaced positions around the stator withthe support member being angularly adjustable around the rotor axis tomove the openings.
 13. The apparatus according to any preceding claimwherein there is provided an inner stator and an outer stator coaxialtherewith and at least one of inner and outer stators is adjustable tochange the angular relationship therebetween.
 14. The apparatusaccording to claim 12 wherein the angular position of at least one ofthe stators is adjustable by a control linkage from a cab of the combineharvester.
 15. The apparatus according to any preceding claim whereinthe rotor comprises a hub carrying rotor blades defining said rotorsurfaces where the blades are pivotally mounted about an axis parallelto the rotor axis so as to act as blades.
 16. The apparatus according toclaim 15 wherein each of the rotor blades includes a sharpened cuttingedge radial to the axis and a fan blade portion generally axial of theaxis.
 17. The apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein therotor also includes an additional blade element outside of the outerstator element.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein each ofthe additional blade elements includes a sharpened cutting edge radialto the axis and a fan blade portion generally axial of the axis.
 19. Theapparatus according to claim 17 or 18 wherein each of the additionalblade elements is located underneath the stator.
 20. The apparatusaccording to any preceding claim 17 wherein there are two rotors eachmounted on a respective gear box at spaced positions along thehorizontal shaft.
 21. Apparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising: ahousing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine harvester forreceiving a feed material containing separated chaff and weed seedsseparated by the combine harvester from harvested crop; a rotor mountedin the housing for rotation about an axis and including rotor surfacesthereon for engaging the feed material and for accelerating the feedmaterial in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor; at leastone stator arranged at a location along the direction and comprising astator support member and a plurality of stator portions mounted on thesupport member for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feedmaterial; wherein there is provided an inner stator and an outer statorcoaxial therewith and at least one of inner and outer stators isadjustable to change the angular relationship therebetween; and whereinthe angular position of at least one of the stators is adjustable by acontrol linkage from a cab of the combine harvester.
 22. The apparatusaccording to claim 21 wherein the stator support member is cylindricalso as to surround the axis of the rotor and the stator portions are partcylindrical with each of the plurality of stator portions extendingaround a part only of the periphery of the support member.
 23. Theapparatus according to claim 22 wherein there is provided a dischargeopening between each stator portion and the next.
 24. The apparatusaccording to claim 22 or 23 wherein there are provided inner and outercoaxial cylindrical stators.
 25. The apparatus according to claim 24wherein there are provided rotor components between the inner and outerstators.
 26. The apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 25wherein each stator portion comprises a plurality of upstanding impactposts at spaced positions around the axis.
 27. The apparatus accordingto any one of claims 22 to 26 comprising a plurality of the statorportions having different characteristics which can be selected fordifferent weed seed sizes.
 28. The apparatus according to any one ofclaims 22 to 27 wherein the stator portions are hard surface coated as aseparate component from the support member.
 29. The apparatus accordingto any one of claims 22 to 28 wherein each of the stator portionscomprises mounting edges at angularly spaced ends of the portion forattachment to a rail of the support member.
 30. The apparatus accordingto any one of claims 21 to 29 wherein the support member comprises a topand bottom ring around the axis of the rotor with a plurality of railsparallel to the rotor axis.
 31. The apparatus according to any one ofclaims 21 to 30 wherein the stator includes a plurality of dischargeopenings at angularly spaced positions around the stator with thesupport member being angularly adjustable around the rotor axis to movethe openings.
 32. The apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 31wherein the rotor comprises a hub carrying rotor blades defining saidrotor surfaces where the blades are pivotally mounted about an axisparallel to the rotor axis so as to act as flails.
 33. The apparatusaccording to claim 32 wherein each of the rotor blades includes asharpened cutting edge radial to the axis and a fan blade portiongenerally axial of the axis.
 34. The apparatus according to any one ofclaims 21 to 33 wherein the rotor also includes an additional bladeelement outside of the outer stator element.
 35. The apparatus accordingto claim 34 wherein each of the additional blade elements includes asharpened cutting edge radial to the axis and a fan blade portiongenerally axial of the axis.
 36. The apparatus according to claim 34 or35 wherein each of the additional blade elements is located underneaththe stator.
 37. Apparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising: ahousing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine harvester forreceiving a feed material containing separated chaff and weed seedsseparated by the combine harvester from harvested crop; a rotor mountedin the housing for rotation about an axis and including rotor surfacesthereon for engaging the feed material and for accelerating the feedmaterial in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor; at leastone stator arranged at a location along the direction and comprising astator support member and a plurality of stator portions mounted on thesupport member for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feedmaterial; wherein each of the rotor blades includes a sharpened cuttingedge radial to the axis.
 38. The apparatus according to claim 37 whereineach of the rotor blades includes a fan blade portion generally axial ofthe axis.
 39. The apparatus according to claim 37 or 38 wherein therotor also includes an additional swinging flail element outside of theouter stator element.
 40. The apparatus according to claim 39 whereineach of the additional swinging flail elements includes a sharpenedcutting edge radial to the axis and a fan blade portion generally axialof the axis.
 41. The apparatus according to claim 39 or 40 wherein eachof the additional swinging flail elements is located underneath thestator.
 42. Apparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising: a housingarranged to be mounted at a location on a combine harvester forreceiving a feed material containing separated chaff and weed seedsseparated by the combine harvester from harvested crop; a rotor mountedin the housing for rotation about an axis and including rotor surfacesthereon for engaging the feed material and for accelerating the feedmaterial in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor; at leastone stator arranged at a location along the direction and comprising astator support member and a plurality of stator portions mounted on thesupport member for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feedmaterial; wherein the rotor also includes an additional blade elementoutside of the outer stator element.
 43. The apparatus according toclaim 42 wherein each of the additional blade elements includes asharpened cutting edge radial to the axis and a fan blade portiongenerally axial of the axis.
 44. The apparatus according to claim 42 or43 wherein each of the additional blade elements is located underneaththe stator.
 45. Apparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising: ahousing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine harvester forreceiving a feed material containing separated chaff and weed seedsseparated by the combine harvester from harvested crop; a rotor mountedin the housing for rotation about an axis and including rotor surfacesthereon for engaging the feed material and for accelerating the feedmaterial in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor; at leastone stator arranged at a location along the direction and comprising astator support frame and a plurality of replacable stator insertportions mounted on the support frame for engaging the weed seeds in theaccelerated feed material.
 46. The apparatus according to claim 45wherein the insert portions are arranged such that insert portions ofdifferent geometry are utilized in said stator support frame.
 47. Theapparatus according to claim 45 or 46 wherein the insert portions are ofa different hardness as compared with the support frame.
 48. Theapparatus according to claim 45, 46 or 47 wherein the insert portionscomprise a different material than the support frame.